VX Racing’s excellent form continues at Thruxton

VX Racing laid down the gauntlet for the Dunlop MSA British Touring Car Championship at Thruxton, winning two of the three races and doubling its lead in the manufacturers’ title battle.

Fabrizio Giovanardi spear-headed the Vauxhall works team’s attack, winning races one and two despite carrying substantial ‘success’ ballast, a result of his fantastic recent form.

In a thrilling driving display, the seven-times touring car champion showed his mastery of the new-for-2007 Vauxhall Vectra, blitzing Thruxton’s rapid, sweeping corners and holding his nerve to brush past rivals in some daring moves.

In the third race, which features a reverse grid, the Italian did not sit on his laurels but capitalised on some fierce battles to climb from 10th on the grid to fourth at the chequered flag. The result puts him just nine points behind Drivers Championship leader, Jason Plato.

Team-mate, Tom Chilton, struggled to set up his Vauxhall Vectra for what is the fastest circuit on the BTCC calendar. As a result the 22-year-old struggled with tyre-wear the entire weekend, but still registered a podium helping VX Racing extend its lead in the Teams Championship to 19 points.

Fabrizio Giovanardi

“I really don’t care to lead the championship just yet; I prefer to leave Jason Plato in front. If he is in front he has more ballast and he has the pressure on. This is not the time to fight too much. It is the time to wait and keep the pressure up.

“I’m feeling at home now because I’m not in trouble with everything like last year. Now I know the way, I know everything and I’m at home but now I just want to sleep! I’m a guy who makes inside a lot of pressure, like a pressure cooker!

“Every victory is good but special was my first win in England because last year was a really tough season for me. Now, it’s not normal to win but I know we have the potential to do it.”

Tom Chilton

“In the last race there was a scrum with about eight cars side-by-side fighting for fifth place. I got held up because Colin Turkington went sideways. I had to try and go around him but I was held up so much that the guys behind me went through 25kph quicker; I felt my car moving with the wind as they all fired past! I was a sitting duck.

“It’s going to be right down to the wire for the last race here in October and it will be crucial to have a good round here. I love racing around this circuit. It’s a big adrenalin buzz so for the last round I’ll be getting ready by looking at all the data. I want to make sure I’m fighting at the front in October.”